What are the effects of a chest tube insertion?

Lung expansion: If you have a lung that can't expand fully, the chest tube helps to allow lung re-exansion. Fluid could be blocking expansion and a tube tube removes the fluid. If your lungs have a leak that prevents expansion, the negative pressure created by the chest tube suction inside the chest cavity allows the lung to stay expanded until the lung leak can heal itself.

Lung reinflation: Chest tubes are inserted to reinflate the lung after surgery or injury has caused them to deflate. They can also be used to drain fluid or pus from around the lung. Complications are very rare.